Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1332

“O-oh, they’re coming!”

“Th-this, damn it! Fire! Fire and kill them!” The gunner, adjusting the cannon, shouted, his face pale.

Even as he yelled, he knew it was pointless. Cannons are not for shooting single people. They work best against large groups, but they can’t hit one person accurately.

Also, this was no normal person coming at them. It was a powerful enemy from the Hwasan Sect. This enemy had already killed all their guards. A cannon would not stop someone like that.

“I said fire, now!”

*Kwaaaaaaang!*

The cannon fired at Jo Gul, who charged forward, teeth gritted. The black cannonball shot out at terrifying speed.

But Jo Gul didn’t even blink. The cannonball flew just over his head and smashed into a huge tree behind him.

*Kuuuuuung!*

The tree, thicker than a person, snapped instantly. It showed how powerful the cannon was.

However, it didn’t matter how strong it was if it didn’t hit.

“A-again! Quickly!”

They quickly reloaded the cannon.

But it was too late. Just as they lit the fuse again, Jo Gul was upon them.

“Th-”

*Wham!*

Jo Gul jumped onto the ground and swung his sword hard.

“You bastards!”

*Wham!*

His sword made a ripping sound, like tearing cloth. A red line of blood appeared in the air. The men near the cannon were cut in half and fell.

“H-help me…”

*Thwack!*

Jo Gul didn’t stop. He stabbed another man in the heart and ripped his sword out quickly. Blood sprayed everywhere.

*Splatter!*

Hot, red blood sprayed out, painting the cannon red.

“Haa! Haa! Haa!” Jo Gul breathed hard and looked around. No one was alive. Only blood-soaked bodies remained.

Gritting his teeth, he stomped on the cannon, the fuse still burning. He pointed the cannon up to the sky.

*Kwaaaaaaang!*

The cannonball shot high into the sky.

*Kwaaaaaaang!*

Baek Cheon saw the cannonball and knew what it meant. He shouted loudly, “Everyone, let’s go! Now!”

The situation was bad. More than half the elders had collapsed from poison and injuries. Many of the Hainan disciples were also hurt.

Only those barely able to run and those completely exhausted still held their swords.

But even in that terrible situation, everyone reacted to Baek Cheon’s words. They had heard his voice constantly on the coast of Hainan. Now, that voice had great power over the Hainan disciples.

“This way!” Baek Cheon shouted and ran.

They were so tired, it was easier to just copy what Baek Cheon did than to think about his words.

“Follow the Acting Sect Leader!”

“Move! Do you want to die here?” Namgung Dowi and Hae Yeon pushed them forward, yelling. Geum Yang-baek also shouted loudly.

“What are you doing! Follow the Acting Sect Leader now! Elders, carry the injured disciples! Hurry!”

The Hainan elders were barely able to stand, but they remembered their duty. They carried the injured who could barely move, following Baek Cheon, led by Geum Yang-baek.

The Hainan disciples who could move also ran after them with all their might.

“Damn it! What are you doing!” Im So-byeong grabbed Dang So-so from behind. She was holding onto a dying Hainan disciple.

“Let go! Just let me finish bandaging him!”

“He’s already dead!”

“No… no, please… he’s still breathing! Just… just a little more bandage…”

“Get a grip! If you die, everyone else will die too!”

Dang So-so’s eyes wavered. You could see how emotionally exhausted she was.

But Im So-byeong didn’t care and pulled her away, running.

As everyone ran, Gwak Hwan-so ran towards those who couldn’t move.

“What are you doing! Follow me now!”

“S-Senior Brother!” Those who didn’t know what to do looked at Gwak Hwan-so with despair.

“T-the senior brothers are injured…”

Gwak Hwan-so looked down. A disciple groaned, a blood-stained bandage around his heart.

Gwak Hwan-so understood and clenched his fist. The other injured could be moved somehow. They could die together.

But not these ones. They couldn’t be carried. Their injuries were too bad. If they moved carelessly, their wounds would open and they would die faster.

Dang So-so’s first aid had kept them alive, but they were too weak to keep running.

Gwak Hwan-so gritted his teeth, the muscles in his jaw tight.

“Go!”

“Yes?”

“I said go!”

“G-go? Senior Brother!” The disciple realized what Gwak Hwan-so meant and cried out.

“They’re still alive! What are you saying! You want us to leave them here? That’s…”

“Shut up and go!”

“Senior Brother!”

The disciple cried out in despair. Gwak Hwan-so grabbed him and pulled him close, his bloodshot eyes glaring at the disciple’s tear-filled eyes.

“Then? Are you going to die here with them?”

There was no answer. He pushed the disciple away. There was no time to argue.

If Chung Myung, who was protecting their rear, was pushed back and the canyon was breached again, the Maninbang’s hordes would flood out like a broken dam.

These exhausted people wouldn’t be able to resist. They would all die without even swinging their swords.

They had barely escaped hell. They couldn’t die such a dog’s death!

“Go, now! Or you’ll die by my hand!”

Maybe they were scared of Gwak Hwan-so, or maybe they knew he was right. The injured disciple cried sadly and ran.

Those who had hesitated also followed him.

Gwak Hwan-so looked up, trying not to cry, then lowered his gaze again.

Even in that brief moment, Kwak Hwan-so was terrified.

He was hurt but awake. He heard everything they said. Their angry looks and harsh words were terrifying.

But what Kwak Hwan-so saw was far different from what he had expected.

“Senior Brother…”

Some of his students were very pale and weak. They pointed to themselves with shaking hands.

Kwak Hwan-so could not speak. When he understood what was happening, he felt completely overwhelmed.

“Please…”

“Ugh…”

He wished he could bite his sword and die. He wanted to run away, anywhere at all.

“Senior… Brother…”

“Aaaargh!”

Kwak Hwan-so screamed and swung his sword like a thunderbolt. Blood seeped from his tightly clenched lips.

He raised his special sword, which had a wave design for Hae Nam. Quickly, he cut the necks of his students.

Blood sprayed out!

Small smiles appeared on the faces of the Hae Nam students as their eyes closed and they died.

“Th-Thank… you…”

“Survive…”

Kwak Hwan-so didn’t hear the rest of the words before he ran. No, really, he ran away. He could not stand to hear them anymore.

Far away, farther away.

Tears no longer came.

He knew this was the only way. They could no longer fight, nor could they easily die.

But if he left them alive, the angry Maninbang group would catch them. They would be badly treated and die in pain. (Important: Who is Maninbang? For global readers, we might need to explain very briefly who they are, maybe earlier in the chapter or in the story. Are they enemies? A cruel group?)

It was better to end their lives with his own hands.

So, this was helping them. Kwak Hwan-so knew it.

“Aaaaaaaaaaargh!”

But knowing this did not stop the terrible pain in his heart. He still killed his students, who he had been with his whole life.

‘Survive.’

He did not think about dying with honor anymore, not even a little bit.

He had to live.

He had to survive and get revenge. He had to kill as many of their enemies as his students who died here. No, he had to kill them hundreds, thousands of times to get revenge.

‘I will survive, no matter what! I must!’

His eyes blazed with a fierce venom as he kicked off the ground with all his might.

Meanwhile, far away, Baek Cheon and his group were facing their own dangers.

“Senior Brother!”

“The front!”

“We haven’t identified all the archers’ positions! There may be more ambushes ahead!”

Yoon Jong shouted back and quickly joined Baek Cheon’s side.

A moment later, Jo Gul came running at full speed from the front.

“All the cannons are dealt with!”

“Take the lead! We don’t know how many more ambushes there will be!”

“Injured Brother! Injured Brother is heading to the rear! He’s injured!”

Baek Cheon involuntarily turned to look in the direction Jo Gul had indicated.

They were now on a path in a forest. Far ahead, through the trees, they saw a very deep valley. It looked like it had been cut by a giant sword. (Important: Who is Cheon Shin? Is this a god or legend? If important, we need to explain briefly for global readers.)

He could guess what had happened without hearing any further explanation.

“Cheong Myeong must be very tired! Injured Brother cannot handle it alone because he is hurt! We must help him!”

A conflict flickered across Baek Cheon’s face.

He had to go.

From what Jo Gul said, the problem was clear. Baek Cheon was the only one free to go back and help.

But if he left, what would happen if those who remained faced an ambush in the front? Could they break through with just themselves?

“…Jo Gul.”

“Yes, Senior Brother!”

“You lead the way in front. We are leaving them behind for now.”

“Then are you going, Senior Brother?”

Baek Cheon was silent. Jo Gul’s eyes wavered for a moment.

“Senior Brother! Injured Brother’s injuries are severe! He’s not himself!”

“I said, take charge of the front!”

Baek Cheon’s heart felt like ice. Was he making the wrong choice?

Jo Gul flinched at Baek Cheon’s outburst of anger.

But only for a moment. Jo Gul glared at Baek Cheon, his eyes red and angry. He looked like he was about to punch him.

“So, you’re leaving him behind?”

“They are not too weak to protect themselves! They will come, no matter what!”

“You said that when faced with a crisis, you’d abandon everyone else and run!”

Baek Cheon closed his mouth as if he were speechless. The corners of his neat eyes were trembling.

“You said it! You definitely said that to me, Senior Brother!”

Cheong Myeong is his best friend? Did Cheong Myeong save his life before? A very short hint about their past connection would make Jo Gul’s strong reaction even more believable.

“Cheong Myeong is going to die! Injured Brother is going to die! Don’t you understand the situation? Are you crazy or something!”

“Shut your mouth!”

Yoon Jong shouted, not Baek Cheon. Yoon Jong looked at Jo Gul with a face like a demon, full of anger.

“Senior Brother. But…”

“Didn’t I tell you to shut up!”

Yoon Jong is worried about Cheong Myeong too, but trusts Baek Cheon’s judgment? Showing a little bit of his inner conflict, even just a sentence, would make him more rounded.

Jo Gul’s hand, gripping his sword, trembled faintly at Yoon Jong’s repeated shout.

Jo Gul’s gaze turned to the Hae Nam disciples, who were desperately trying to keep up. But when he looked at them, his eyes were different now.

“What are these guys…”

“Jo Gul!”

“Why do we have to go this far for this damned Hae Nam! You’re all crazy! You’re out of your minds, you bastards!”

“You son of a bitch!”

The moment Yoon Jong reached out to grab his collar, Jo Gul didn’t hold back and slapped his hand away. He left the confused Yoon Jong and ran towards the valley.

“Geol! Jo Gul, you bastard!”

“Leave him.”

Yoon Jong turned at Baek Cheon’s words. Baek Cheon was biting his lip until it bled, his eyes radiating a terrifying light.

“…You take the lead and clear the path. We will arrive in Gangbuk alive. No matter what.”

“…Yes, Senior Brother.”

It felt like something was breaking inside him.

Maybe this was the start of something terrible.

Baek Cheon’s hand was hidden in his sleeve so no one could see it shaking badly.